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A review by tien
Mum & Dad by Joanna Trollope
3.0
"So despite the fact that I know you think I'm wet and useless and defeatist, I'm actually just trying to elude being stamped on by everyone else, flattened, obliterated. It may sound pathetic to you, but I just want people to be kind. Kind to me, and to each other. That's all."
Monica and Gus chose to live in Spain; away from their children who live in England. Or rather, Monica followed Gus in realising his dreams of a vineyard. As a family, they are rather more estranged than familiar with huge big gaps between each member. When Gus suffered a stroke, however, things began to boil over until one and then two and then the rest begins to open up and one talks to the other.
This isn't a book that I'd pick up on my own; not by its description anyway. I'm too wary of family stories as I've had enough of mine own. However, I kind of liked the cover so thought I'd give it a go. It was a matter of discipline of reading 2 chapters per day. That made it sound rather terrible, isn't it? But, it was a pretty sad & heartbreaking story. At least, to begin with, it was, but thankfully the ending wasn't too bad. Although, I did wonder how realistic it was... Probably only a small percentage of family will survive for the better or am I being a cynic?
Overall, Mum & Dad is a wonderful book in showing just how gaps and misunderstandings can be bridged by being open, talking honestly and willingness to forgive. I enjoyed Trollope's prose and her descriptions of Spain had me enthralled to the end.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan Australia for copy of book in exchange of honest review
Monica and Gus chose to live in Spain; away from their children who live in England. Or rather, Monica followed Gus in realising his dreams of a vineyard. As a family, they are rather more estranged than familiar with huge big gaps between each member. When Gus suffered a stroke, however, things began to boil over until one and then two and then the rest begins to open up and one talks to the other.
This isn't a book that I'd pick up on my own; not by its description anyway. I'm too wary of family stories as I've had enough of mine own. However, I kind of liked the cover so thought I'd give it a go. It was a matter of discipline of reading 2 chapters per day. That made it sound rather terrible, isn't it? But, it was a pretty sad & heartbreaking story. At least, to begin with, it was, but thankfully the ending wasn't too bad. Although, I did wonder how realistic it was... Probably only a small percentage of family will survive for the better or am I being a cynic?
Overall, Mum & Dad is a wonderful book in showing just how gaps and misunderstandings can be bridged by being open, talking honestly and willingness to forgive. I enjoyed Trollope's prose and her descriptions of Spain had me enthralled to the end.
Thanks to Pan MacMillan Australia for copy of book in exchange of honest review